NHTSA Complaint #10735239 — 2012 FORD FOCUS

ACCELERATING UP A SHALLOW HILL THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO STUTTER AND JERK AND GRIND AS IT CHANGED GEARS. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE JERKING THE CAR SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND REVVED UP. COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AT SPEED. PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD (ON A HILL) PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. WHEN I RELEASED THE BRAKE THE CAR ROLLED BACKWARDS DOWN THE HILL - CLEARLY THE CAR WAS NOT ENGAGED IN PARK. I APPLIED THE BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR AND ENGAGED THE E BRAKE. I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR IT WOULD NOT START. ERROR KEPT FLASHING 'PARKING AID MALFUNCTION - SERVICE REQUIRED'. THE FAILURE LEFT US STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ON A 95 DEGREE DAY WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO START THE CAR. I AM CURRENTLY WAITING FOR FORD DEALER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE JERKING AND STUTTERING OF THE TRANSMISSION IS A VERY REGULAR OCCURRENCE FOR MY CAR. IT HAPPENS AT ALMOST EVERY STARTUP, ESPECIALLY WHEN HOT. THE JERKING AND STUTTERING HAS IN THE PAST RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER TO THE POINT THAT I HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT BY ONCOMING CARS WHEN I TRIED TO PULL OUT INTO THE STREET. I HAD ALSO BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALER PREVIOUSLY COMPLAINING OF SEVERE JERKING AND STUTTERING AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL FOR THE TRANSMISSION.